Welcome to this week’s edition of cell tower industry news, created by Jarad Matula and brought to you by Towercrews.net.
OSHA cites S&S for W.Va. collapse
You’ll likely recall when we reported on a tragic tower collapse that injured two and claimed two lives in February. Paperwork must be a bear, because OSHA has finally cited the company responsible, S&S Communications. It’s a total of two citations, each costing the company $7,000. The first is for not using temporary braces or supports. The second citation is for attaching personal fall arrest equipment not capable of supporting at least 5,000 pounds. S&S has 15 days to respond to the citations.
Is it just me or does it feel like there should be a citation OSHA can give a company for negligence that results in the loss of life? Some sort of equivalent of manslaughter. It may seem harsh to some, but personally I find the idea that people died on this sub-contractor’s (and other higher up companies’) watch and they’re just fined $14,000 to be troubling. That’s far less than what any one of these towers makes in a year in revenue. Feels like an inhuman injustice, does it not? Assumption of risk on the climber’s part only takes you so far.
FCC tower safety workshop
Those people who fine people for using dirty words on TV and have a say in spectrum auctions are working with tower climbers? Apparently so. This week the Federal Communications Commission announced that in partnership with OSHA they will host a workshop on tower climber safety and injury prevention. The workshop will include panel discussions related to:
- Factors contributing to the high rate of tower climber injuries and fatalities.
- Best practices that ensure tower climber safety and prevent injuries and fatalities.
FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler is scheduled to attend and make a few remarks. Click here for time, date and location. Sounds pretty good, right? However, it’s only a one-time workshop … at the FCC headquarters in Washington D.C. Seems like this is geared more towards the corporate suits than the climbers themselves, or else they would have them all over the country. But hopefully owners of some prominent tower companies attend and learn some safety practices to take back to the company and climbers to help prevent future tragedies and unsafe practices.
More on OSHA’s new tower hoist rules
Remember last week when we featured the news about OSHA’s new rules concerning climbers’ use of a hoist? Well RCR Wireless News reporter Kelly Hill delved deeper into the subject, writing up an excellent analysis of this change. She also did a video interview with former climber and tower industry blogger Wade Sarver, who discussed the change from a climber’s perspective. Watch that here:
In equity news, Crown Castle’s stock was only given an average “buy” rating by brokerages.
Regional/local tower news
- Milford, N.H., board votes down AT&T cell phone tower.
- Covington, Ga., cell tower approved second time around.
- Caln, Pa., officials OK cell tower.
- Wendell, N.C., cell tower plan hits a snag.
- Merrimack, N.H., zoning board votes down cell tower construction.
- Pleasant Hill, Calif., approves cell tower over neighbors’ objections.
- Neighbors say no to cell tower at Rockville, Md., school.
- Cell tower revenue should go to parks, Streetsboro, Ohio, council says
- Whiteside, Ohio, cell tower on the table
- New cell tower to provide better coverage on I-90 in Billings, Mont.
- Cell tower rejected in Wantagh, N.Y.
- Sea Bright, N.J., going out to bid for cell tower.
- Committee in Durham, N.C., settles on cell tower strategy.
- Middlebury, Conn., church members considering steeple cell tower proposal.
- County Council rejects request for cell tower off Penny Royal Lane in St. Charles County, Mo.
- AT&T puts Cornwall, Conn., cell tower plan off until 2015.
